Californians blast Trump remark that Iran could 'take out' Los Angeles, San Diego
LOS ANGELES, Oct 5 - President Donald Trump suggested to a crowd of his supporters in Nebraska that Iran could "take out" a major US city like Los Angeles or San Diego, drawing a swift rebuke from California's Democratic leaders and some fellow Republicans.
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Iran → blast → leaders
Trump, speaking at a political rally in the state's farm belt on Monday, discussed American wartime economic sacrifices and said he was determined to "see a tremendous victory, because it verifies all the things we did.
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we → speak → things
"And again, remember, with the war, it's just artificial, it's a little bit high, it's a small price to pay," he told the crowd in Grand Island, Nebraska, apparently referring to rising prices of fuel, fertilizer and other products attributed to energy market disruptions from the war.
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he → remember → war
"It's a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, for keeping our country safe.
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It → pay → country
They could take out a city.
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They → take → city
Let 'em take out Los Angeles, let 'em take out San Diego.
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'em → let → Diego
This is a very small price to pay, and it's going to be over with very soon," he said.
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he → pay → ?
"It's essentially almost over with," Trump went on.
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Trump → go → ?
"But it's going to end very soon, and it's going to end one way or the other."
On Tuesday, the White House dismissed criticism of the remark.
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House → go → remark
"The media freakout over President Trump’s comments is not rooted in reality.
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freakout → root → reality
He was clearly stating U.S. cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn't been stopped," White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung said in a social media post.
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Cheung → state → post
Iran has no nuclear, no navy, no air force, and no money."
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Iran → have → nuclear
Trump has shrugged off cost-of-living concerns stemming from the Iran conflict before, and he previously downplayed his concerns about the potential for Iran or its allies to launch an attack on US soil.
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Iran → shrug → soil
EARLY VOTING UNDERWAY IN CALIFORNIA
The comment in rural Nebraska, a state Trump won with more than 55% of the vote in the 2024 presidential election, targeted Democratic-run cities in California, a solidly Democratic state the president often criticizes.
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president → win → California
Monday's comments prompted a backlash from California officials.
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comments → prompt → officials
California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, denounced the Republican president as "deranged and dangerous.
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Newsom → denounce → president
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"After sending the National Guard and Marines to occupy California, Donald Trump is now saying our foreign enemies should 'take out' Los Angeles and San Diego," he wrote on X.
Newsom, who has positioned himself as a major political foil to Trump and is seen as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, juxtaposed a video clip of Trump in Nebraska with mention of the president's previous rhetoric to justify deploying US military troops to Los Angeles and other cities to fight crime and enforce immigration.
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who → send → immigration
California's early voting for the November midterm elections started on Monday.
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voting → start → Monday
The president's Republican Party has hoped to win more races in the state in recent years, including this year's gubernatorial election.
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Party → hop → election
Newsom championed the redrawing of California's congressional map last year to favor Democrats in this year's election after Trump pushed for conservative-led Texas to redraw its map to boost Republicans.
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Texas → champion → Republicans
One of the Republicans running in a competitive race in a redrawn California district near San Diego, Jim Desmond, distanced himself from Trump's remarks.
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One → run → remarks
I vehemently disagree with President Trump’s comments.
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I → disagree → comments
America must stand up to Iran and defend our interests, but the first responsibility of our Commander in Chief is to protect the American people and our homeland," he wrote on X. "
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he → stand → X.
No American city is expendable, and no American family should ever be treated as collateral damage."
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family → treat → damage
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat and former member of Congress, likewise chided Trump for his comments.
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Bass → chide → comments
The president of the United States suggested that a foreign government attack Los Angeles.
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government → suggest → Angeles
His statements against our city are dangerous and could potentially compromise our safety," Bass said in a statement.
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Bass → compromise → statement
Los Angeles and San Diego rank as the largest and second-largest cities in California by population.
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Angeles → rank → population
More than 115,000 activity-duty service members are also stationed in San Diego, including Naval Base San Diego, the largest on the United States' west coast.
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members → station → coast
"My constituents — including many active duty service members, veterans, and their families — are not acceptable collateral damage in Trump’s stupid war," US Representative Sara Jacobs, a Democrat, said in a social media post.
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Jacobs → include → post
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